Wastewater management system

ABSTRACT

A method of and an apparatus for rejuvenating a wastewater treatment system of the type including a septic tank, an aerobic treatment unit or the like connected by a pipe to a plugged downstream soil absorption system includes a wastewater treatment unit which is interposed between the septic unit/aerobic treatment unit and the downstream soil absorption system. The wastewater treatment unit includes a single piece or a multiple piece solids settling and retention basin within which is suspendingly supported a wastewater treatment mechanism essentially of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120. The wastewater treatment mechanism includes filters for filtering and settling solids from wastewater and flow equalization ports for effecting flow equalization thereby eliminating flow surges to the downstream plugged soil absorption system. By utilizing an extremely compact solids settling and retention basin and its attendant operative components, solids are prevented from passing beyond the wastewater treatment unit to the failed soil absorption system. In this fashion the wastewater treatment unit of the present invention can rejuvenate wastewater treatment systems which have failed, and if installed prior to such failure, can extend the life thereof substantially indefinitely. The latter and other advantages are achieved at relatively low cost, absent destruction of existing sod or lawn, moving fencing, trees, etc., and absent creating a hazard for individuals, particularly small children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The most widely used on-site wastewater treatment systems forindividual households have traditionally been either septic systems oraerobic treatment units. Septic systems generally include a septic tankfollowed by a leaching tile field or a similar absorption device locateddownstream, but physically on-site of the individual residence. Theseptic tank allows for larger/heavier solids in the sewage to settle outwithin the tank, while anaerobic bacteria partially degrade the organicmaterial in the waste. The discharge from the septic tank is furthertreated by dispersion into the soil through any number of soilabsorption devices, such as a leaching tile field, whereby bacteria inthe soil continue the biodegradation process.

[0002] The conventional septic system is typically a flow-throughsystem. The septic tank and the tile field are positioned so that sewageis carried out of the residence and through the treatment system bygravity and hydraulic displacement. As a flow-through system, the tankrelies on sufficient hydraulic capacity to slow the velocity of the flowand allows settling of the solids to take place. Unfortunately, as thesettable solids accumulate in the bottom of the tank, they displace thebeneficial tank volume, effectively increasing the velocity of flowthrough the tank and decreasing the efficiency of solids removal. Also,as a flow-through system, the velocity of the flow through the tank andthe related efficiency of solids removal by gravity are dependent uponthe volume and frequency of the incoming sewage. A lower volume and rateof incoming sewage flow allows for greater gravity separation andremoval efficiency. Higher volumes and rates of flow therefore decreasegravity settling and solids removal efficiency. Over the course of time,an increasing in volume of organic material is discharged from the tank(due to decreasing removal efficiency) until the total volume of solidsdischarged over the life of the system exceeds the capacity of thedownstream soil absorption system (leaching tile field) to accomplishfurther treatment. The soil absorption system will then retain solidsand become plugged, thereby causing a back-up of sewage into the home.In this situation, the downstream soil absorption system is consideredfailed. Rejuvenation of a failed soil absorption system is nottechnologically feasible. Therefore, the downstream soil absorptionsystem or other downstream device must be replaced or a new downstreamdevice installed. However, even if sufficient land area is availabletoward the installation of a new downstream device, such can beaccomplished only at considerable cost and inconvenience. Typically,heavy construction equipment is required to excavate and install any newreplacement leaching tile field (a commonly used soil absorptionsystem), or a similar device. This is much more inconvenient and costlythen at the time of installation of the original treatment system.Construction equipment operating around an occupied residence frequentlyrequires considerable destruction of hundreds of square feet of existingsod or lawn, moving fences, trees or recreational equipment, andcreating a hazard for individuals, particularly smaller children.

[0003] Most aerobic treatment units are also flow through systems.Unlike septic tanks, aerobic treatment units perform primary (anaerobic)treatment and secondary (aerobic) treatment within the confines of thesystem. This arrangement provides a much higher degree of treatmentwithin a relatively small area. As traditional aerobic treatment unitsare designed for a much higher removal of solids and organic compoundsthan anaerobic treatment units, a downstream device is frequently notrequired or is severely diminished in size compared to one which wouldbe required downstream of a septic tank. In a traditional aerobictreatment unit, the first stage of the process is called pretreatmentand provides for anaerobic treatment very much like that provided by aseptic tank. A separate, isolated pretreatment chamber containssufficient hydraulic capacity to slow the velocity of the flow somewhatand allows the settling of some of the solids to take place. Anaerobicbacteria partially degrade the organic material in the waste. As a flowthrough system, the contents of the pretreatment chamber (partiallytreated waste) are displaced by incoming sewage, and are transferred tothe aeration chamber or biological reactor.

[0004] Within the aeration chamber, air is introduced in controlledamounts creating a proper environment for the development of a number oftypes of aerobic bacteria. The aerobic bacteria maintain a highermetabolic rate than anaerobic bacteria, which causes them to readilyconsume the organic material contained in the pretreated sewage. Priorto discharge of this flow through system, the aerobic bacteria (commonlycalled activated sludge) must be separated from the treated liquid. Ifthe activated sludge particles are allowed to exit the system, twoproblems occur. First, the activated sludge would not be available totreat additional incoming sewage. As the system is operated on acontinuing basis, the cultured bacteria need to be retained for futureuse. Secondly, if the activated sludge is allowed to be discharged fromthe system, the organic nature of the sludge would be considered apollutant if returned directly to the environment.

[0005] Commonly, the activated sludge is separated from the treatedliquid by allowing the solids to settle out in a gravity clarifier. In aflow through system, the contents of the aeration chamber containing theactivated sludge are hydraulically displaced to the clarifier bypartially treated liquid entering from the pretreatment chamber. Once inthe gravity clarifier, quiescent conditions allow the activated sludgeto slowly settle to the bottom of the chamber while the treated liquidis discharged from the system near the top of the chamber. The clarifierrelies on having sufficient hydraulic capacity to slow the velocity ofthe flow through the chamber and thereby allows the activated sludgesolids to settle to the bottom. The settled sludge at the bottom of theclarifier is returned, by various means, to the aeration chamber. Thisreturn prohibits the clarifier from accumulating a large volume ofsolids and thereby reducing the efficiency of solids separation.However, as a flow through system, the settling efficiency of theclarifier is dependent also on the volume and frequency of the incomingsewage flow.

[0006] From the foregoing, it is clearly seen that the efficient andlong-term operation of a flow through septic system or a flow throughaerobic treatment unit is dependent on eliminating surges andmaintaining a uniform, consistent rate of flow through the system.Unfortunately, a uniform, consistent rate of flow through a residentialwastewater system is not commonly achieved. Modern homes are furnishedwith many water using appliances that generate large volumes of sewageflow in compressed periods of time. Wastewater from washing machines,dishwashers, hot tubs, spas, and similar appliances tend to be high involume and discharge within a short period of time. These concentratedhydraulic surges disrupt the quiescent environment of septic tanks oraerobic treatment units, reducing efficiency of the gravity settlingprocess. This effect causes partially treated waste or biological solidsto be discharged to a downstream soil absorption system or otherdownstream treatment device resulting in premature failure, or causesbiological solids to be returned to the environment as a pollutant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to enhance the operation ofnew or existing septic tanks or aerobic treatment units to prohibit thedischarge of partially treated waste or other organic solids. Byinstalling a novel wastewater treatment unit of the present inventiondownstream of a new or existing septic tank or an aerobic treatmentunit, but upstream of a soil absorption system, device or a dischargepoint, the discharge of partially treated waste or other organic solidsis substantially totally precluded. In particular, the wastewatertreatment unit of the present invention is of a relatively compact sizeand its installation as aforesaid can be accomplished with minimumdisturbance to existing yards, landscaping or home sites whosedownstream soil absorption system is being newly installed or has beeninstalled for a time and is failing. Even if the downstream treatmentsystem has not failed, the installation of the wastewater treatment unitof the present invention provides enhanced performance benefits to newor previously installed residential wastewater treatment systems at aminimum of cost, effort and installation time. By thus installing thewastewater treatment unit of the present invention into or as part of aresidential wastewater treatment system, an increase in theserviceability of the latter is automatically achieved. As the totalvolume of solids discharged by a secondary treatment system typicallyaccumulate in the downstream soil absorption system or device, prematurefailure is common. Removal of accumulated solids from a failed orplugged soil absorption device is not technological feasible, butrejuvenation thereof can be achieved by the present invention in thesense that the wastewater treatment unit of the present invention can beinstalled upstream from the failed soil absorption system and willaccumulate solids which can in turn be removed readily from gradethereby preventing solids from passing beyond the wastewater treatmentunit to the failed soil absorption system. In this fashion thewastewater treatment unit of the present invention can rejuvenatewastewater treatment systems which have failed and, if installed priorto such failure, can extend the life thereof.

[0008] The latter objects are achieved by a novel wastewater treatmentunit utilizing substantially the wastewater treatment mechanismdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120 granted on Nov. 23, 1993 which ishoused in a settling and retention basin which collects solids fromdomestic wastewater discharge. The settling and retention basin includesan inlet and an outlet pipe or invert which are respectively connectedto the discharge of a flow-through septic system or a flow-throughaerobic treatment unit and a soil absorption system (leaching tilefield) or any such other downstream treatment device. Wastewater entersthe settling and retention basin and before being discharged therefrompasses through and is treated by a wastewater treatment mechanism(similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120 which is known in the tradeas assignee's Bio-Kinetic® device) which contains three filtrationzones, eight settling zones, 37 baffled chamber plates and 280 linealfeet of kinetic filtration, all of which dramatically reduce loading ondownstream soil absorption systems. Moreover, within the Bio-Kinetic®device are settling zones which operate in conjunction with filtrationand flow equalization to effectively retain BOD and solids which areremoved from the flow stream. The Bio-Kinetic® device includes flowequalization ports arranged to manage daily flow variations and controlflow through all upstream and downstream treatment processes, highersustained flow ports which become operative under longer hydraulicsurges and, finally, peak flow ports which operate under high, prolongedflow surges. Thus, under all three potential flow patterns, the solidscan be settled by the Bio-Kinetic® device and retained in the settlingand retention basin for subsequent removal from grade. Since thesettling and retention basin has a normal capacity of 52 gallons belowan outlet invert, normal liquid and solids retention capacity is quitehigh, but for special applications additional ring sections and risersections can be added to dramatically increase the volume of theretention basin and allow water-tight installation at burial depths ofup to 12 feet. However, an upper end of the settling and retention basinis at all times exposed above grade and is closed by a heavy duty accesscover which permits the removal and cleaning of the Bio-Kinetic® device,the removal of solids from the settling and retention basin, and there-installation of the Bio-Kinetic® device into the settling andretention basin for continued use. Thus, by installing the wastewatertreatment unit of the present invention upstream of new or existing tilefields, sand filters, leaching fields, mounds, irrigation systems,constructed wet lands or any process that is biologically sensitive,hydraulically sensitive or difficult to replace, effective wastewatertreatment is assured through the settling and storage of suspendedsolids, flow equalization, filtration and, if desired, chemicaladdition.

[0009] Thus, upon the installation of the wastewater treatment unit ofthe present invention immediately downstream of a new or existing septictank or an aerobic treatment unit, the following advantages areachieved:

[0010] a) direct filtration and settling of treated wastewater ortreated effluent,

[0011] b) beneficial flow equalization through all upstream anddownstream treatment stages,

[0012] c) the addition of downstream chemicals via chemical feeders,

[0013] d) the enhancement of beneficial nitrification, and

[0014] e) the enhancement of beneficial de-nitrification.

[0015] With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafterappear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood byreference to the following detailed description, the appended claims andthe several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a wastewater treatment system,and illustrates a wastewater treatment unit defined by a wastewatertreatment mechanism (Bio-Kinetic® device) housed within a sectionalsolids settling and retention basin having an inlet connected to aconventional wastewater treatment plant and an outlet connected to apipe leading to a downstream soil absorption system, such as anirrigation system, a leaching tile field, sand filters, etc. with anupper end of the settling and retention basin being accessible abovegrade upon the removal of an access cover.

[0017]FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial cross sectional view, and illustratesdetails of the wastewater treatment unit including compression clampsand associated seals or gaskets for securing tubular sections of thesolids settling and retention basin to each other in a water-tightfashion, as well as securing the access cover to an uppermost tubularriser section of the solids settling and retention basin.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wastewater treatment unit, andillustrates the exterior configuration thereof including a plurality ofcircumferential outwardly projecting ribs (inwardly opening valleys) andoutwardly opening valleys (inwardly projecting ribs) and the accesscover in its seated position.

[0019]FIG. 4 is an axial cross sectional view of the solids settling andretention basin of FIGS. 1 through 3, and illustrates three individualsections prior to being united together, a safety/surface guard orcover, and the access cover.

[0020]FIG. 5 is an axial cross sectional view through a one-piece moldedsolids settling and retention basin body immediately after the moldingthereof, and illustrates shaded areas representing annular bands ofwaste material which can be selectively removed to form a segmentedsolids settling and retention basin and its associated safety/serviceguard or cover.

[0021]FIG. 6 is an axial cross sectional view of the segmented solidssettling and retention basin body, and illustrates as exemplary themanner in which riser sections and/or ring sections can beinterchangeably mated with each other.

[0022]FIG. 7 is another axial cross sectional view of another one-piecesolids settling and retention basin body, and illustrates as exemplaryeleven shaded areas representative of annular bands of waste materialwhich can be selectively removed and discarded and from which a solidssettling and retention basin can be formed of a variable number of riserand/or ring sections differing in height from those of FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0023]FIG. 8 is an axial cross sectional view of the solids settling andretention basin body of FIG. 7, and illustrates as exemplary all of theriser/ring sections telescopically united in one of severalinterchangeable arrangements.

[0024]FIG. 9 is a highly enlarged axial cross sectional view of theencircled portion of FIG. 2, and illustrates a compression clamp andseal assembly formed by an annular sealing gasket interposed betweentelescopic tubular sections of the sectional solids settling andretention basin and the compression clamp clamping the sections togetherin a water-tight fashion.

[0025]FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the compression clamp, andillustrates opposite ends thereof, one end being in the form of aprojecting tab or tongue having a plurality of elongated slots oropenings, and the other end having an apertured wall or shoulder throughwhich the tongue projects and a flexible locking tab having an inwardprojection which is received in one of the openings of the projectingtongue.

[0026]FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross sectionalview of the compression clamp of FIG. 10, and illustrates details of theopposite ends thereof including the inward projection which seats in oneof the openings of the tongue.

[0027]FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of thecompression clamp, and illustrates the compression clamp in its clampedposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] A novel wastewater treatment system constructed in accordancewith this invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings and isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0029] The wastewater treatment system 10 includes a conventionalwastewater treatment plant 11 connected by a discharge or outlet pipe 15to a novel and unobvious wastewater treatment unit 20 of the presentinvention which is in turn connected by an outlet or discharge pipe 16to a conventional soil absorption system or device 14, such as anirrigation system, a leaching tile field, or the like. In conventionalwastewater systems, the wastewater treatment plant 11 is connecteddirectly by a sewer pipe to the soil absorption system 14, obviouslyabsent the wastewater treatment unit 20, and as the total volume ofsolids are discharged and accumulate in the soil absorption system 14,plugging and premature failure thereof is common. Removal of accumulatedsolids from a failed soil absorption system, such as the soil absorptionsystem 14, to rejuvenate the same is not technically feasible. However,in accordance with the novel method of this invention indefinitelyextends the life of a new or rejuvenating such a failed soil absorptionsystem 14 is accomplished by first excavating earth between thewastewater treatment plant 11 and the soil absorption system 14.Thereafter the wastewater treatment unit 20 is installed as illustratedin FIG. 1 connected to the discharge of the wastewater treatment plant11 through a newly installed outlet or discharge pipe 15 and by a newlyinstalled outlet or discharge pipe 16 to the soil absorption system 14.

[0030] As will be described more fully hereinafter, the wastewatertreatment unit 20 removes accumulated solids discharged therein from thewastewater treatment plant 11 through the pipe 15 and thus the liquiddischarge from the wastewater treatment unit 20 via the discharge pipe16 is substantially solids-free. Solids so removed by the wastewatertreatment unit 20 can be periodically removed therefrom and thereby thelife of the soil absorption system 14 is extended or rejuvenated.

[0031] The wastewater treatment plant 11 is of a conventionalconstruction and corresponds to the wastewater treatment plant disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,207,896 and 5,264,120 granted respectively on May 4,1993 and Nov. 23, 1993 to Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company ofNorwalk, Ohio, the assignee of the present invention. The specificdetails of the wastewater treatment plant of the latter-identifiedpatents is incorporated herein by reference, but excluded from aclarifier or clarification chamber 17 of the wastewater treatment system10 is the wastewater treatment mechanism (BioKinetic® device) andinstead a conventional tubular tee T is connected to the pipe 15.

[0032] The wastewater treatment unit 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the presentinvention includes a sectional solids settling and retention basin 21which preferably is a one-piece body molded from polymeric/copolymericsynthetic plastic material, as shall be described more fully hereinafterwith respect to FIGS. 5 and 7 of the drawings, or can be constructedfrom a plurality of individual tubular sections, such as an uppertubular section or riser 22, an intermediate or middle tubular section23 and a lower tubular section 24 closed by an integral bottom wall 25collectively defining the solids settling and retention basin 21 and asolids settling and retention chamber 26 thereof in which solidsentering the chamber 26 through the discharge pipe 15 from thewastewater treatment plant 11 accumulate and can be periodicallyremoved. The discharge pipe 15 is solvent-connected to the intermediatesection 23 by a conventional schedule 40 PVC inlet coupling 18 and anassociated seal (not shown), and the discharge pipe 16 is likewiseconnected to the intermediate tubular section 23 by another schedule 40PVC outlet coupling 19 and an associated seal (not shown).

[0033] A wastewater treatment mechanism 50 (BioKinetic® device) whichcorresponds in most respects to the like numbered wastewater treatmentmechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120 is suspendingly supported withinthe solids settling and retention chamber 26 of the solids settling andretention basin 21. The wastewater treatment mechanism 50 includes anoutermost, substantially cylindrical, integral, one-piece moldedfiltering means, filtering media or filtering body 70 having a lowercylindrical filtering wall portion 72 of a smaller mesh than that of aupper cylindrical filtering wall portion 73 with an imaginary line 74defining the line of demarcation therebetween. A solid wall 71 closesthe bottom of the filtering means 70 and an upper end thereof terminatesin a radially outwardly directed flange 75.

[0034] The filtering body 70 includes a pair of diametrically oppositeflow equalization means 85 defined by vertically aligned spaced flowequalization ports 81, 82 and 83 progressively increasing in sizeupwardly and functioning in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No.5,264,120. The sizes, spacing and function of the flow equalizationports 81 through 83 correspond to the same dimensions and functions asset forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120 which are incorporated hereat byreference.

[0035] A housing 90 having an open bottom is closed by an upper closureassembly 120 suspendingly support therein a baffle plate assembly 110housing approximately three dozen baffle plates 99. The latter unitizedcomponents corresponding substantially in structure and function to thelike components of U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120. The upper closure assembly120 also includes a top wall or deck having a generally T-shaped channel(not shown) which discharges liquid into an outlet port 176 slidablytelescopically received in a tubular discharge pipe 453 of a firstflange coupler 451 which is vertically slidably received downwardly intoand upwardly out of a generally U-shaped upwardly opening flangereceiving coupler 456 having an opening (unnumbered) in fluidcommunication with the discharge pipe 16. The couplings or coupler 451,456 permit the entire wastewater treatment mechanism 50 to be installedinto and removed from the solids settling and retention basin 21 fromabove, as will be more apparent hereinafter.

[0036] Means 140 in the form of a dry tablet chlorination feed tube 141for housing stacked chlorination tablets is carried by the upper closureassembly 120 as is dechlorinating means 180 in the form of a dry tabletdechlorination feed tube 181 for housing stacked dechlorination tablets,again as the latter structures and their functions are more fullyspecified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120.

[0037] Resting atop the flange 75 of the wastewater treatment mechanism50 is a removable moisture/vapor closure, cover or shield 55 defined bya one-piece molded polymeric/copolymeric body including a circular disc51, two tubular portions 57, 58 projecting upwardly therefrom, and atubular handle portion 59 spanning the tubular portions 57, 58. Whenpositioned as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the tubularportions 57, 58 of the moisture/vapor cover 55 telescopically receiveand stabilize the respective chlorination and dechlorination tubes 141,181. Four equally circumferentially spaced holes (not shown) in thecircular disc 51 receives fasteners, such as screws, which are threadedinto like holes (also not shown) of the flange 75 to secure themoisture/vapor cover 55 to the flange 75 yet permit the rapiddisassembly thereof by removing the screws (not shown). The purpose ofthe moisture/vapor cover or shield 55 is to prevent condensation fromentering the wastewater treatment mechanism 50.

[0038] Before specifically describing the three piece sectional solidssettling and retention basin 21 of FIG. 2 which is defined by the upper,intermediate and lower tubular sections 22 through 24, respectively,reference is made to FIG. 5 of the drawings which illustrates aone-piece hollow solids settling and retention body 30 molded byrotational molding, vacuum molding or injection molding frompolymeric/copolymeric plastic material, such as corrosion resistantpolyethylene. The hollow body 30 includes a tubular wall 31 having anupper end closed by an integral top wall 32 and a bottom end closed byan integral bottom wall 40. A plurality of alternating internallyprojecting peripheral ribs 33, 34 and inwardly opening valleys 35, 36are disposed substantially along the axial length of the tubular body31. The ribs 33 are of a substantially lesser internal diameter than thediameter of the ribs 34 and the valleys 35 are of a greater axial heightand a greater diameter than the axial height and diameter of the valleys36. For the most part, the ribs and the valleys are arranged in theaxial sequence 33, 35, 34, 36; 33, 35, 34, 36; etc. Within each suchsequence of ribs and valleys, each rib 33 and its adjacent valley 35 aredefined by a wall 37 common to each rib 33 and each valley 35. Each rib33 also includes an innermost cylindrical wall portion 38 and eachvalley 35 adjacent thereto includes an outermost cylindrical wallportion 39.

[0039] Cut lines C1, C2 define annular bands of scrap material or bandsS1, S2 and S3. By cutting along the cut lines C1, C2, the shaded annularbands S1, S2 and S3 are removed as scrap material and four tubularsections 41, 42, 43 and 44 are formed therefrom. Adjacent the top wall32, a somewhat wider circumferential band of scrap material S4 can beremoved when the hollow body 30 is severed along the cut lines C1, C2associated therewith. However, the hollow body 41 adjacent the top wall32 terminates in two adjacent valleys 35, 35 separated by a rib 34. Thepurpose of this configuration is to not only create the tubular section41 of essentially the identical contour as the tubular sections 42, 43and 44, but also to form therefrom a generally concavo-convex wall 45which can be rotated or flipped 180° from the position shown in FIG. 5to that shown in FIG. 6 and thereby define a safety/surface guard,closure or cover 45, preferably having a central hole 47, for closingthe solids settling and retention basin 21, as is illustrated in itsoperative position in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 of the drawings. However, uponthe removal of the annular scrap 4, the upper and lower edges(unnumbered) of the tubular sections 41 through 44 are identical to eachother and a cylindrical wall portion 49 of each smaller valley 36 (FIG.6) will telescopically seat within the remaining portion of the wallportion 39 of the larger valley 35 resulting in the telescopic nestedsupported relationship of the section 41 upon the section 42, thesection 42 upon the section 43, and the section 43 upon the section 45.

[0040] The hollow body 30 and the manner in which the scrap S1 throughS4 are removed therefrom is merely exemplary of many different optionswhich are available with respect to a particular installation of thesolids settling and retention basin 21 between the wastewater treatmentplant 11 and the soil absorption system 14 (FIG. 1). For example, thehollow body 30 (FIG. 5) is of the same diameter as the diameter(approximately 24″) of the solids settling and retention basin 21 but isonly 60″ in height, as compared to the approximately 70″ total height ofthe solids settling and retention basin 21. If only the band of scrap S4was removed, the remaining uncut tubular sections 41 through 44 of thehollow body 30 could be used in lieu of the axially shorter lowertubular section 24 (FIG. 2) of the solids settling and retention basin21 thereby increasing the overall height, volume, and depth below gradeor grade level GL thereof. As another example, by removing all bands ofscrap material S1-S5, each of the tubular sections 41 through 44 can beindividually utilized to increase the height or depth below grade GL orboth of the solids settling and retention basin 21 by, for example,adding one of the sections 41 through 44 to the upper tubular section orriser 22 (FIG. 2) or to the lower section 24 as a so-called ring.Depending upon the number of removed scrap bands S1 through S5, theaxial heights thereof and the distances therebetween, each 60″ hollowbody 30 can be utilized at the site of installation as might berequired. In FIG. 5, if all scrap or scrap sections S1 through S5 wereremoved from the areas indicated, the upper and lower tubular sections41, 44 would each be approximately 12″ in axial length and the twomiddle tubular sections 42, 43 would each be approximately 18″ inlength. These sections could be used, as desired, to alter the overallheight and depth above and/or below grade GL of the solids settling andretention basin 21 by 12″, 18″, 24″ etc. increments.

[0041] As another example of utilizing the hollow body 30 or sectionsthereof for particular installations, another identical hollow body 30′is illustrated in FIG. 7 and the height thereof is also approximately60″. However, in this case the hollow body 30′ includes eleven tubularscrap sections S6 through S16 which if all were removed would create tentubular riser or ring sections 60 through 69. The tubular sections 60through 64 are each 6″ in axial height and the tubular sections 65through 69 are each 3″ in axial height. Upon the removal of thecylindrical scrap material S6 through S16, the tubular sections areshown in FIG. 8 telescopically united to each other, though such ismerely exemplary and will not be used in actual practice. However, any6″ tubular section 60 through 64 or any 3″ tubular section 65 through 69can be utilized as need be to increase the height or depth above orbelow grade GL of the solids settling and retention basin 21 of FIG. 2in lesser axial increments than provided by the 12″ tubular segments 41,44 and the 18″ tubular segments 42, 43 of the body 30 of FIG. 5.Accordingly, the hollow body 30 and the equivalent hollow body 30′demonstrate the flexibility afforded the solids settling and retentionbasin 21 for a variety of site installations. It is, of course, withinthe scope of the invention to remove, for example, only the scrapmaterial S4 or S6 of the respective hollow bodies 30, 30′ and utilizethe same as a single piece basin for other purposes, such as a pumphousing. For example, a preferable single piece basin of approximately70¼″ in height could be formed by molding either of the hollow bodies30, 30′ of an approximate axial length of 72″. Thereafter, the removalof only the narrow scrap section S4 of the hollow body 30 or the scrapsection S6 of the hollow body 30′ would form a one-piece molded basin ofapproximately 70¼″. The latter basin excludes the flat wall 98 but wouldbe provided with openings corresponding to the openings O, 0′, though ifused for a pump housing, the axial offset would be unnecessary.

[0042] Reference is made to FIG. 4 of the drawings which morespecifically demonstrates details of the intermediate or middle tubularsection 23, as compared to the upper tubular section 22, the lowertubular section 24, or any of the tubular sections 41 through 44 and 60through 69. The major difference is an inwardly projecting rib 95 (FIG.4) having an innermost cylindrical wall portion 96 of a diameter lessthan the diameter of the ribs 33, 34 and an upper substantiallyhorizontal wall portion 97. The rib 95 projects inwardly substantiallybeyond the inward projection of any of the ribs 33, 34, and this allowsthe wastewater treatment mechanism 50 to be inserted into and withdrawnfrom the solids settling and retention basin 21 through the open upperend (unnumbered) upon the removal of the safety/service cover 45 and aseparately fabricated heavy duty access cover 46. Since the flange 75(FIG. 2) of the filter media body 70 of the wastewater treatmentmechanism 50 has a diameter substantially greater than the openingdefined by the cylindrical wall portion 96 of the rib 95, the flange 75is underlyingly supported by the horizontal wall portion 97 of the rib95 of the tubular section 23. Additionally, there is a considerableannular gap G (FIG. 2) between the solids settling and retention basin21 and the filter body 70 of the wastewater treatment mechanism 50 whichallows the entire filter body 70 to be shifted radially to the left, asviewed in FIG. 2, to withdraw the outlet port 176 from the tubulardischarge pipe 453 and vice versa incident to disassembly andreassembly, respectively, for purposes of installation, inspectionservicing and/or cleaning.

[0043] The intermediate or medial tubular section 23 also includes twodiametrically opposite relatively flat wall portions 98 havingrespective openings O, O′ (FIG. 2) preferably cut therein at the plantor factory immediately after the molding of the tubular section 23 or anentire one-piece basin 21, as will be described more fully hereinafter.The inlet coupling 18 and the outlet coupling 19 are also preferablybolted (not shown) to the tubular section 23 at the factory. The axis Aoof the opening O (FIG. 2) is 1″ above the axis Ao′ of the opening O′creating thereby an automatic and natural 1″ fall between the twoopenings 0, O′.

[0044] The upper tubular section 22 (FIG. 2), normally termed a “riser”in the trade, is clampingly secured to the intermediate tubular section23 by a compression clamp and seal assembly 100. In FIG. 2 an identicalcompression clamp and seal assembly 100 clamps the medial tubularsection 23 to the lower section 24 and, of course, identical compressionclamp and seal assemblies 100 are utilized to connect other uppertubular sections or risers as desired above the medial tubular section23 and like tubular sections, which are normally termed “rings” in thetrade, when added beneath the middle tubular section 23. A likecompression clamp and seal assembly 100 also clamps the heavy dutyaccess cover 46 to the upper tubular section or riser 22 with aperipheral edge (unnumbered) of the safety/service cover 45 beingsandwiched between wall portions (unnumbered) of the uppermost rib 34 ofthe tubular section 22 and an inwardly directed peripheral wall 91(FIGS. 2, 4 and 6) of an outwardly directed rib 92 of the heavy dutyaccess cover 46.

[0045] The compression clamp and seal assembly 100 is best illustratedin FIG. 9 of the drawings, and includes an O-ring type annular seal 105and a compression clamp 115. The annular seal 105 includes an outercylindrical leg portion 106, a bight portion 107, and an innercylindrical leg portion 108 collectively defining therebetween a slot orgroove 109 which receives the wall portion 39 of the lower tubularsection 24. A generally radially inwardly directed wall portion 101 ofthe annular seal 105 is sandwiched between opposing generally radialwall portions 102, 103 of the intermediate tubular section 23 and thelower tubular section 24, respectively. A number of conventional annularsealing lips (unnumbered) are carried by the wall portions 108, 101.

[0046] The compression clamp or clamping means 115 of the compressionclamp and seal assembly 100 is a one-piece molded polymeric/copolymericband of a substantially U-shaped configuration over a major portion ofthe length thereof from a first end portion 112 to an opposite secondend portion 113 at which a minor portion 114 continues in the form of atongue or tab having a plurality of equally spaced narrow slots 119 anda tool receiving opening 116. The end portion 112 of the major portionincludes an upstanding wall 117 (FIG. 11) having a slot 118 and adjacentto the latter a depending flexible latching tab 125 carries a projection121. The flexible latching tab 125 is bordered by a U-shaped slot 124. Aslot 128 is formed through the flexible locking tab 125. The first endportion 112 further includes a group of equally spaced slots 121 and anupstanding locking tab 122 having an opening 123.

[0047] After the annular seal 105 has been assembled upon the wallportion 39 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9, the upper tubular risersection 23 is seated upon the sealing lips (unnumbered) of the radialwall portion 101 of the annular seal 105 after which the compressionclamp 115 is positioned in loosely surrounding relationship thereto, asis also illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings. The tongue 114 of thecompression clamp 115 is inserted through the slot 118 (FIG. 12) andover and beyond the locking tab 122. A tool, such as a screwdriver, isthen inserted through the tool receiving opening 116 or any one of theslots 119 and the end of the blade thereof is seated in a selected oneof the slots 121 of the first end portion 112 of the compression clamp115 after which the screwdriver is levered or fulcrumed in aconventional manner to draw the tongue 114 further through the slot 118and further over and further beyond the locking tab 122 whichprogressively constricts the compression clamp 115 against the outercylindrical leg portion 106 (FIG. 9) of the annular seal 105 eventuallycreating a water-tight seal therebetween and a water-tight seal betweenthe sealing lips (unnumbered) and the opposing wall portion 39 of thevalley 36. When the compression clamp 115 is tightened manually in thisfashion sufficiently to assure a water-tight seal, the tongue 114 ismanipulated as need be by utilizing the screwdriver to align one of theslots 119 of the tongue 114 with the locking tab 122 and subsequentlyuniting the two together in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12 at whichpoint the locking tab or projection 122 projects through one of theslots 119, as is illustrated in FIG. 12. If desired a lock, bolt,locking ring or a wire can be passed through the opening 123 of thelocking tab 122 and thereafter twisted to precludeinadvertent/accidental disassembly of the locking tab 122 from itsassembled condition (FIG. 2).

[0048] The compression clamp 115 performs a number of functionseffectively, such as compressing the annular gasket 105 to effect awater-tight seal between any two components, preventing verticalseparation between components, maintaining horizontal alignment of thecomponents, and creating in effect two seals, one afforded by the innercylindrical leg portion 108 and the other by the radially inwardlydirected wall portion 101 of the annular seal or gasket 105. The latterassures a water-tight seal between all tubular sections and between theuppermost tubular section or riser 22, the associated safety/servicecover 45 thereof, and the heavy duty access cover 46. The latter twocovers 45, 46 are also preferably tether-connected to the upper tubularsection or riser 23 by respective retainer cables 145, 146, respectively(FIG. 2).

[0049] The compression clamp 115 is released and removed by firstreleasing and removing the locking ring or twisted wire passing throughthe opening 123. Thereafter the end of the tongue 114 adjacent the slot116 can be manually gripped or gripped by a pair of pliers and pulledupwardly to remove locking tab 122 from its associated slot 119. At thistime the flexible latching tab 125 is still engaged in its associatedslot 119 (FIG. 12) and further lifting of the tongue 114 upwardly willhave no effect thereon. A blade of the screw driver is inserted throughthe slot 128 with its end engaged against the underlying upper surface(unnumbered) of the first end portion 112, and thereafter the blade ispivoted or torqued to the right, as viewed in FIG. 12, causing theflexible latching tab 125 to flex to the phantom outline position ofFIG. 12 which draws the depending latching projection 121 outwardly ofits associated slot 119 thereby completely releasing the compressionclamp 115.

Installation

[0050] Reference is made to FIG. 1 of the drawings, and it is assumedfor the moment that the wastewater treatment unit 20 has not beeninstalled and that a single pipe or sewer pipe extends from thewastewater treatment plant 11 to the soil absorption system 14 which hasbecome “plugged” through the retention of solids, as described earlierherein, thereby potentially causing a back-up of sewage into anassociate home (not shown). The soil absorption system 14 is considered“failed” and “rejuvenation” of a “failed” soil absorption system 14 isnot technically feasible, except at the considerable inconvenience,danger and expense earlier noted. However, in keeping with the presentinvention, the site at which the waste treatment unit 20, andparticularly the solids settling and retention basin 21, is to beinstalled is first excavated by simply digging a hole to expose theexisting sewer line or pipe (not shown). A relatively narrow sewertrench is dug along the length of the original sewer line to enable itsentire removal. A hole must also be dug or excavated for the solidssettling and retention basin 21. Since the maximum outside diameter ofthe solids settling and retention basin 21 is approximately 24″, theexcavation should be at a minimum of 36″×36″ square or approximately 36″diameter, if round. The exact excavation depth depends upon a variety offactors and of importance is the vertical distance between grade orgrade level GL and the outlet (unnumbered) of the clarifier 17 fromwhich the old sewer line is removed and replaced by the outlet pipe 15.The closer the outlet pipe 15 to grade level GL, the less the depth ofthe excavation and vice versa. One or more risers of required heightsmight necessarily have to be added above the middle tubular section 21,while one or more rings of required heights might necessarily have to beadded below the middle tubular section 21 depending upon the specificsof the installation. As a typical example, the excavation for the solidssettling and retention basin 21 is preferably deep enough to permit aminimum 4″ levelling bed or pad P of gravel, sand or fine crushed stoneupon which rests the bottom wall 25 of the solids settling and retentionbasin 21. In actual practice and in the present example the distance D1between the upper edge (unnumbered) of the upper tubular section orriser 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and the bottom wall 25 is approximately 70¼″and the distance D2 from the top of the heavy duty access cover 46 andgrade level GL is approximately 7½″. Thus the total depth of theexcavation would be approximately 75″ to 80″ depending upon the totalthickness or depth of the leveling pad P.

[0051] The new outlet pipe (influent sewer line) 15 is then connected tothe clarifier opening (unnumbered) of the wastewater treatment plant 11,though not permanently connected thereto. The outlet pipe (effluentsewer line) 16 can be positioned in the sewer trench, generally asillustrated in FIG. 1, though not necessarily permanently connected tothe soil absorption system 14. The distance between the top surface ofthe leveling pad P and the center of the pipe 15 is measured to assurethat the inlet coupling 18, previously bolted to the flat wall portion98 of the tubular section 23, will be in axial alignment with the pipe15. Obviously, the axis of the pipe 15 must be preferably 1″ minimumabove the axis of the pipe 16 upon the complete installation of thewastewater treatment unit to assure that the pipes 15, 16 are alignedwith and enter into the couplings 18, 19 which are of the same 1″ fallbecause of the 1″ difference in the axes Ao and Ao′ earlier described.In the specific example given the lower tubular section 24 of the solidssettling and retention basin 21 is selected and, for example, formed byselectively removing scrap material from several of the molded basinbodies 30 such that when clamped to the middle tubular section 21 andinstalled with the bottom wall 25 resting upon the levelling pad P, thetotal distance D3 from the bottom wall 25 to the volute (bottom) of thepipe 15 is approximately 38⅛ and the distance D4 of the volute (bottom)of the pipe 16 from the bottom wall 25 of the solids settling andretention basin 21 is 37⅛″ which is a natural 1″ fall between the two.

[0052] The solids settling and retention basin 21 is then lowered intothe excavation with its bottom wall 25 seated upon the upper surface ofthe levelling pad P after which the pipe 15 can be inserted into andsolvent-welded to the coupling 18. An appropriate conventional seal isprovided between the outlet pipe 15 and the wall (unnumbered) of thewastewater treatment plant 11. The pipe 16 is likewise inserted into andsolvent-welded to the coupling 19 and to the soil absorption system 14.Prior to making the latter permanent connections, a level is applied tothe solids settling and retention basin 21 to assure horizontal leveland vertical plum thereof.

[0053] The solids settling and retention basin 21 should be back-filledimmediately after the pipes 15, 16 have been permanently installed. Thesewer trench above the pipes 15, 16 should also be back-filled. However,before back-filling the heavy duty access cover 46 should be at leastseated upon, though not necessarily locked to the riser 22 to preventdirt or debris from entering the solids settling and retention basin 21during back-filling. The finished grade GL should be 3″ below the upperedge (unnumbered) of the solids settling and retention basin 21.

[0054] Immediately after back-filling, the access cover 46 is removedand the solids settling and retention basin 21 is filled with hold downwater, although the hold down water can be added before back-filling.

[0055] The filtering body 70 of the wastewater treatment mechanism 50,excluding the housing 90, the upper closure assembly 120, the baffleplate assembly 110 carried by the upper closure assembly 120, thechlorination feed tube 141, the dechlorination feed tube 181, themoisture/vapor shield or cover 55 and the safety/service cover 45, islowered into the solids settling and retention basin 21. Naturalbuoyancy created by the hold down water will cause the filtering body 70to tend to float in the hold down water, but a hose can be utilized todirect water into the filtering body 70 through the open upper endthereof resulting in the gradual sinking of the filtering body 70 intothe solids settling and retention basin 21. During the latter assemblythe filtering body 70 is aligned such that the flange coupler 451 (FIG.2) progressively vertically enters into and seats in the U-shapedreceiving flange or coupling 456 (FIG. 2). In the final installedposition of the filtering body 70 the flange 75 thereof rests upon therib 95 of the solids settling and retention basin 21. Means (not shown)may be utilized to secure the flange 75 upon the rib 95, as, forexample, four circular discs equally spaced about the periphery of theflange 75 and vertically pivotally mounted thereto in an eccentricfashion such that each disc can be rotated in a horizontal plane about avertical axis from a position entirely inside the periphery of theflange 75 to a radially outwardly projecting position with a portion ofeach disc being received within the opposing valley and underlying theuppermost rib of the solids settling and retention basin 21 therebypreventing vertical withdrawal of the filtering body 70 therefrom.

[0056] Thereafter the unitized housing 90, the upper closure assembly120, and the baffle plate assembly 110 suspendingly supported from thelatter are inserted progressively into the filtering body 70 until theoutlet port 176 is aligned with the tubular discharge pipe 453 of thefirst flange coupler 451 after which the housing 90 is shifted to theright to the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0057] The moisture/vapor shield or cover 55 is positioned atop theflange 75 and is conventionally secured thereto by passing fastenersthrough openings (not shown) in the circular disc 51 of thesafety/service guard or cover and threading the same into the flange 75of the filtering body 70. The chlorination tube 141 and thedechlorination tube 181 are telescopically assembled through the tubularportions 57, 58, respectively, to the position illustrated in FIG. 2.Chlorination tablets are inserted in the chlorination tube 141 anddechlorination tablets are inserted into the dechlorination tube 181before or after the latter installation with caps (unnumbered) beingappropriately assembled thereon. The safety/service guard or cover 45and the heavy duty access cover 46 are then assembled, as shown in FIG.2, and locked by means of the associated compression clamp and sealassembly 100.

Operation

[0058] Under normal conditions, wastewater W (FIG. 1) within theclarification chamber or clarifier 17 of the wastewater treatment plant11 is at a wastewater level L dependent upon the hydraulic head, and therate of flow of the wastewater/effluent through the wastewater treatmentunit 20 and particularly the wastewater treatment mechanism 50 thereofwill depend upon the head or height of the wastewater within theclarification chamber 17. During such normal hydraulic head, the level Lof the wastewater approximates the position of the lowermost of thediametrically opposite pair of flow equalization ports or openings 81,and this is the design flow level DFL of the wastewater treatment unit20, as established by the flow equalization ports 81 of the wastewatertreatment mechanism 50. Under such normal design flow conditions,wastewater not only accumulates in the solids settling and retentionbasin 21, but small solids or particles Ss (FIG. 2) pass through thesmaller mesh of the lower cylindrical filtering wall portion 72 whilelarger solid particles Sp falling downwardly and accumulating upon andabove the bottom wall 25 of the solids settling and retention basin 21.The wastewater and still smaller particles Sss which have passed throughthe filtering wall portion 72 but are too light to settle upon thebottom wall 71 of the filtering body 70 flow upwardly and through thebaffle plate assembly 110 during which the smallest particles arefiltered out from the wastewater by the baffle plates 99. The wastewatereventually discharges through an opening (not shown) in the upperclosure assembly 120 and passes through the outlet ports 176, 453 intothe pipe 16 with prior chlorination and dechlorination being effected,if desired, in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120 . In thecase of a retro fit for a failing or failed disposal system, theessentially solids-free wastewater/effluent continues toward itsdischarge at the soil absorption device 14 which though plugged canabsorb and disperse the substantially solids-free effluent therebyrejuvenating the entire wastewater treatment system 10 due to theextraction of the solids or solid particles Sp, Ss, Sss and Spl withinthe solids settling and retention basin 21, the bottom wall 71 andwithin and upon the approximately three dozen baffle plates 99 of thebaffle plate assembly 110. Should the installation be for a newwastewater treatment system, the substantial solids-free effluentextends the life of the disposal system substantially indefinitely.

[0059] Should the flow of wastewater from the clarification chamber 17exceed the design flow designated by the design flow level DFL (FIG. 2),as controlled by the diametrically opposite flow equalization ports 81,the wastewater will rise to a higher sustained flow level SFL at whichthe pair of flow equalization ports 82 become operative, as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120.

[0060] During peak flow of wastewater from the clarification chamber 17,the wastewater reaches a peak flow level PFL established by the largerdiameter flow equalization ports 83, just as in the case of U.S. Pat.No. 5,264,120 with, of course, solids or solid particles Spl passingthrough the larger mesh of the upper cylindrical filtering wall portion73 and settling down and upon the bottom wall 71 of the filtering bodyor filtration media body 70.

Servicing and Cleaning

[0061] Access to the interior of the wastewater treatment unit 20 isrequired from time-to-time during normal use and is readily effected byremoving the compression clamp 115 associated with the access cover 46.Upon unlatching and removing the compression clamp 115, the access cover46 and the safety/service cover 45 can be removed. The chlorination anddechlorination tubes 141, 181 can simply be filled with tablets or canbe removed by pulling the same vertically upwardly. Each tube 141, 181can be flushed and cleaned, refilled with chlorination anddechlorination tablets, and reassembled to the position illustrated inFIG. 2 after which the components 45, 46 and 115 can be reassembled.Obviously the feed tubes 141, 181 need not be removed when the onlyservicing required is to add respective chlorination and dechlorinationtablets thereto.

[0062] Over longer periods of time the entire wastewater treatment unit20 must be completely cleaned to remove all of the solids accumulated inthe solids settling and retention basin 21, all of the solidsaccumulated upon the bottom wall 71 of the filtering body 70 and all ofthe solids accumulated upon each of the baffle plates 99 of the baffleplate assembly 110. Such servicing is again accomplished by firstremoving the uppermost compression clamp 115, the access cover 46 andthe safety/service cover 45. The feed tubes 141, 181 are then withdrawnupwardly and removed followed by the removal of the moisture/vaporshield or cover 55 after unfastening the cover disc 51 from the flange75 of the filter media body 70.

[0063] The entire housing 90 of the wastewater treatment mechanism 50can now be lifted upwardly by, for example, manually grasping theclosure assembly 120 or utilizing a special tool (not shown) whichinterlocks with the upper closure assembly 120. Since the baffle plateassembly 110 is secured to the upper closure assembly 120, the unitizedcomponents 90, 110, 120 are removed in unison. The unitized components90, 110, 120 must, of course, be lifted straight up, as viewed in FIG.2, to remove the outlet port 176 from the discharge pipe 453 prior tolifting and removing components upwardly and outwardly from the filtermedia body 70.

[0064] The flange 75 of the filter media body 70 is then detached fromthe solids settling and retention basin 21 by rotating the eccentricallymounted, vertically pivoted, four circular discs in a horizontal plane(not shown and earlier described) to remove the same from the opposingvalley which is the uppermost unnumbered valley of the middle tubularsection 23 of the solids settling and retention basin 21. The solidssettling and retention basin 21 can then be lifted vertically upwardlyto detach the couplings 451, 456. A suction hose/line can be insertedinto the filtering body 70 to withdraw wastewater and solids therefromprior to lifting the filtering body 70 upwardly and outwardly of thesolids settling and retention basin 21 to ease the effort involved inthis task. The same suction line can then be inserted into the solidssettling and retention basin 21 to draw wastewater and the solidsaccumulated therein while simultaneously washing and cleaning theinterior of the solids settling and retention basin 21 utilizing waterfrom a garden hose until the solids settling and retention basin 21 isthoroughly cleansed and rinsed. Thereafter, the safety/service cover 45can be temporarily seated in the upper end of the riser 22 to precludedirt or debris from entering the now cleaned solids settling andretention basin 21 while cleansing the withdrawn remaining components inthe immediately environs. Water from a garden hose is directed to allsurfaces of all of these components including the individual baffleplates 99 upon disassembly thereof from the baffle plate assembly 110 inthe manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120.

[0065] After all components have been thoroughly cleaned, they arereassembled in a manner apparent from the description of the disassemblythereof, with, of course, chlorination and dechlorination tablets beingadded to the respective feed tubes 141, 181 before or after thereassembly thereof. The moisture/vapor cover 55, the safety/serviceclosure 45, the access cover 46 and the compression clamp 115 arereassembled in the manner shown in FIG. 2, and the wastewater treatmentunit 20 is ready for continued long term wastewater treatment/disposal.

[0066] It is to be particularly understood that though the solidssettling and retention basin 21 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is sectional, the samecan and for the most part will remain as a one-piece molded body asaforesaid with the openings 0, O′ being cut therein at the factory tomake certain that the axis Ao is 1″ higher than the axis Ao′ of theopening O′ thereby assuring the necessary natural 1″ fall to achieveefficient flow-through from the pipe 15 to the pipe 16. Also, with theconnectors 18, 19 being bolted to the wall portions 98 at the factory,when the one-piece solids and retention basin 21 is delivered to thesite for installation, the only major criteria required for properflow-through is to make certain that the discharge pipe 15 has anacceptable fall from the wastewater treatment plant 11 to the opening Oand additional fall from the opening O′ to the soil absorption system14.

[0067] Also though the invention has been described specifically withrespect to the installation of the wastewater treatment unit 20 relativeto an existing wastewater treatment plant 11 and a plugged soilabsorption system 14, the wastewater treatment plant 11 is equallyapplicable to “new” installations. In the case of a new installation, anarea of the ground must be excavated to also include the new wastewatertreatment plant 11 and, of course, a new soil absorption system 14 isinstalled. Obviously, there are no pre-existing sewer pipes to removeand, therefore, the installation remains essentially identical for thenew system as that earlier described for the “old” or “plugged” system.

[0068] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat minor variations may be made in the apparatus without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of “rejuvenating” a wastewater treatmentsystem of the type including a septic unit, an aerobic treatment unit orthe like connected by a pipe to a “plugged” downstream soil absorptionsystem comprising the steps of excavating a volume of soil to expose thepipe, removing at least a section of the pipe, housing a solids settlingand retention basin in the excavated volume, connecting an upstream pipeto the basin for effecting wastewater flow into the basin, housing afiltration and flow equalization unit in the basin for effectingwastewater filtration and flow equalization thereby eliminating flowsurges, and connecting an outlet of the filtration and flow equalizationunit to the soil absorption system whereby substantially solid-freewastewater is delivered to the “plugged” soil absorption system whilefiltered and settled solid can be subsequently removed from the basinand the filtration and flow equalization unit.
 2. The method as definedin claim 1 including the step of peripherally suspendingly supportingthe filtration and flow equalization unit internally of the basin. 3.The method as defined in claim 1 including the step of seating aradially outwardly directed flange of the filtration and flowequalization unit upon a radially inwardly directed flange of the basinthereby suspendingly supporting the filtration and flow equalizationunit from the basin.
 4. The method as defined in claim 1 includingreconditioning and cleaning the filtration and flow equalization unit byperforming the steps of removing the filtration and flow equalizationunit through an open upper end of the basin, spanning the basin openupper end with an apertured support, supporting the filtration and flowequalization unit upon the apertured support, and directing water uponand into the filtration and flow equalization unit while supported uponthe apertured support whereby removed solids are flushed through theapertured support into the basin.
 5. The method as defined in claim 1including reconditioning and cleaning the filtration and flowequalization unit by performing the steps of removing the filtration andflow equalization unit through an open upper end of the basin, spanningthe basin open upper end with an apertured upwardly concavely facingsupport, supporting the filtration and flow equalization unit upon theapertured upwardly concavely facing support, and directing water uponand into the filtration and flow equalization unit while supported uponthe apertured upwardly concavely facing support whereby removed solidsare flushed through the apertured upwardly concavely facing support intothe basin.
 6. The method as defined in claim 1 including reconditioningand cleaning the filtration and flow equalization unit by performing thesteps of removing the filtration and flow equalization unit through anopen upper end of the basin, spanning the basin open upper end with anupwardly concavely facing centrally apertured cover, supporting thefiltration and flow equalization unit upon the upwardly concavely facingcentrally apertured cover, and directing water upon and into thefiltration and flow equalization unit while supported upon the upwardlyconcavely facing centrally apertured cover whereby removed solids areflushed through the upwardly concavely facing centrally apertured coverinto the basin.
 7. The method as defined in claim 1 including“customizing” the height of the basin to the location of the pipe endsand/or the depth of excavation and/or the position relative to groundlevel by performing the steps of adding one of a riser and a ringrespectively above and below a section of the basin to which the pipeends are connected, and exteriorly clamping the one riser and ring tothe basin section.
 8. The method as defined in claim 1 including“customizing” the height of the basin to the location of the pipe endsand/or the depth of excavation and/or the position relative to groundlevel by performing the steps of providing one of a riser and a ring ofa peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheral profile of asection of the basin to which the pipe ends are connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the one riser and ring, andexteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial ends together. 9.The method as defined in claim 1 including “customizing” the height ofthe basin to the location of the pipe ends and/or the depth ofexcavation and/or the position relative to ground level by performingthe steps of providing one of a riser and a ring of a peripheral profilesubstantially matching the peripheral profile of a section of the basinto which the pipe ends are connected, telescopically uniting an axialend of the basin section with a substantially matching axial end of theone riser and ring, sandwiching an annular seal between thetelescopically united axial ends, and exteriorly clamping thetelescopically united axial ends together.
 10. The method as defined inclaim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin to the locationof the pipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or the positionrelative to ground level by performing the steps of providing one of ariser and a ring of a peripheral profile substantially matching theperipheral profile of a section of the basin to which the pipe ends areconnected, telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section witha substantially matching axial end of the one riser and ring,sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically united axialends, and exteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial endstogether in the area of the annular seal to compress the same betweenthe telescopically united axial ends.
 11. The method as defined in claim1 including “customizing” the height of the basin to the location of thepipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or the position relative toground level by performing the steps of providing one of a riser and aring of a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of a section of the basin to which the pipe ends are connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the one riser and ring, sandwichingan annular seal between the telescopically united axial ends andoutboard of the exteriormost of the axial ends, and exteriorly clampingthe telescopically united axial ends together.
 12. The method as definedin claim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin-to thelocation of the pipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or theposition relative to ground level by performing the steps of providingone of a riser and a ring of a peripheral profile substantially matchingthe peripheral profile of a section of the basin to which the pipe endsare connected, telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin sectionwith a substantially matching axial end of the one riser and ring,sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically united axial endsand outboard of the exteriormost of the axial ends, and exteriorlyclamping the telescopically united axial ends together in the area ofthe annular seal to compress the same between the telescopically unitedaxial ends and a clamp effecting the clamping.
 13. The method as definedin claim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin to thelocation of the pipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or theposition relative to ground level by performing the steps of providing ariser of a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of a section of the basin to which the pipe ends are connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the riser, and exteriorly clampingthe telescopically united axial end together.
 14. The method as definedin claim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin to thelocation of the pipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or theposition relative to ground level by performing the steps of providing ariser of a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of a section of the basin to which the pipe ends are connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the riser, sandwiching an annularseal between the telescopically united axial ends, and exteriorlyclamping the telescopically united axial ends together.
 15. The methodas defined in claim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin tothe location of the pipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or theposition relative to ground level by performing the steps of providing ariser of a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of a section of the basin to which the pipe ends are connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the riser, sandwiching an annularseal between the telescopically united axial ends, and exteriorlyclamping the telescopically united axial ends together in the area ofthe annular seal to compress the same between the telescopically unitedaxial ends.
 16. The method as defined in claim 1 including “customizing”the height of the basin to the location of the pipe ends and/or thedepth of excavation and/or the position relative to ground level byperforming the steps of providing a riser of a peripheral profilesubstantially matching the peripheral profile of a section of the basinto which the pipe ends are connected, telescopically uniting an axialend of the basin section with a substantially matching axial end of theriser, sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically unitedaxial ends and outboard of the exteriormost of the axial ends, andexteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial ends together. 17.The method as defined in claim 1 including “customizing” the height ofthe basin to the location of the pipe ends and/or the depth ofexcavation and/or the position relative to ground level by performingthe steps of providing a riser of a peripheral profile substantiallymatching the peripheral profile of a section of the basin to which thepipe ends are connected, telescopically uniting an axial end of thebasin section with a substantially matching axial end of the riser,sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically united axial endsand outboard of the exteriormost of the axial ends, and exteriorlyclamping the telescopically united axial ends together in the area ofthe annular seal to compress the same between the telescopically unitedaxial ends and a clamp effecting the clamping.
 18. The method as definedin claim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin to thelocation of the pipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or theposition relative to ground level by performing the steps of providing aring of a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of a section of the basin to which the pipe ends are connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the ring, and exteriorly clampingthe telescopically united axial ends together.
 19. The method as definedin claim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin to thelocation of the pipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or theposition relative to ground level by performing the steps of providing aring of a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of a section of the basin to which the pipe ends are connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the ring, sandwiching an annularseal between the telescopically united axial ends, and exteriorlyclamping the telescopically united axial ends together.
 20. The methodas defined in claim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin tothe location of the pipe ends and/or the depth of excavation and/or theposition relative to ground level by performing the steps of providing aring of a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of a section of the basin to which the pipe ends are connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the ring, sandwiching an annularseal between the telescopically united axial ends, and exteriorlyclamping the telescopically united axial ends together in the area ofthe annular seal to compress the same between the telescopically unitedaxial ends.
 21. The method as defined in claim 1 including “customizing”the height of the basin to the location of the pipe ends and/or thedepth of excavation and/or the position relative to ground level byperforming the steps of providing a ring of a peripheral profilesubstantially matching the peripheral profile of a section of the basinto which the pipe ends are connected, telescopically uniting an axialend of the basin section with a substantially matching axial end of thering, sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically unitedaxial ends and outboard of the exteriormost of the axial ends, andexteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial ends together. 22.The method as defined in claim 1 including “customizing” the height ofthe basin to the location of the pipe ends and/or the depth ofexcavation and/or the position relative to ground level by performingthe steps of providing a ring of a peripheral profile substantiallymatching the peripheral profile of a section of the basin to which thepipe ends are connected, telescopically uniting an axial end of thebasin section with a substantially matching axial end of the ring,sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically united axial endsand outboard of the exteriormost of the axial ends, and exteriorlyclamping the telescopically united axial ends together in the area ofthe annular seal to compress the same between the telescopically unitedaxial ends and a clamp effecting the clamping.
 23. The method as definedin claim 1 including “customizing” the height of the basin by performingthe steps of providing a tubular section of predetermined axial lengthand having a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of the basin, peripherally severing the basin between a closedbottom thereof and a point at which the pipe ends are connected to thebasin, telescopically uniting ends of the tubular section with severedends of the basin, and exteriorly clamping the telescopically unitedends together.
 24. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the basin isdefined at least in part by an upper tubular section, a lower tubularsection having a closed bottom and a medial tubular section to which thepipe ends are connected and including the steps of telescopicallyuniting upper and lower peripheral ends of the medial tubular sectionwith respective lower and upper peripheral ends of the respective lowerand upper tubular sections, and exteriorly clamping each of the unitedperipheral ends to each other.
 25. A wastewater treatment unitcomprising a solids settling and retention basin defined by a one-piecebody molded from polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material, saidbody including a tubular wall having an open upper end and a lower endclosed by a bottom wall, a plurality of alternating internal andexternal peripheral ribs and valleys disposed substantially along theaxial length of said body between said open upper end and said lowerend, at least one of said internal peripheral ribs having asubstantially lesser internal diameter than the diameter of internalperipheral ribs located below said one internal peripheral rib, meansfor introducing wastewater into said body, means for dischargingwastewater from said body, wastewater treatment means in said body fortreating wastewater during its flow from said introducing means to saiddischarging means, and means for suspendingly supporting said wastewatertreatment means from said at least one internal peripheral rib.
 26. Thewastewater treatment unit as defined in claim 25 wherein said wastewatertreatment suspendingly supporting means includes a radially outwardlydirected rib.
 27. The wastewater treatment unit as described in claim 25wherein said wastewater treatment suspendingly supporting means includesa radially outwardly directed rib in overlying supporting relationshipupon said at least one internal peripheral rib.
 28. The wastewatertreatment unit as described in claim 25 wherein said wastewatertreatment suspendingly supporting means includes a radially outwardlydirected circumferential rib in overlying supporting relationship uponsaid at least one internal peripheral rib.
 29. The wastewater treatmentunit as defined in claim 25 wherein all internal peripheral ribs locatedabove said at least one internal peripheral rib each have an internaldiameter greater than the internal diameter of said at least oneinternal peripheral rib thereby permitting axial downward movement ofsaid wastewater treatment means through said open upper end until saidsuspendingly supporting means seats upon said at least one internalperipheral rib.
 30. The wastewater treatment unit as defined in claim 27wherein all internal peripheral ribs located above said at least oneinternal peripheral rib each have an internal diameter greater than theinternal diameter of said at least one internal peripheral rib therebypermitting axial downward movement of said wastewater treatment meansthrough said open upper end until said radially outwardly directed ribseats upon said at least one internal peripheral rib.
 31. The wastewatertreatment unit as defined in claim 28 wherein all internal peripheralribs located above said at least one internal peripheral rib each havean internal diameter greater than the internal diameter of said at leastone internal peripheral rib thereby permitting axial downward movementof said wastewater treatment means through said open upper end untilsaid radially outwardly directed circumferential rib seats upon said atleast one internal peripheral rib.
 32. A settling and retention basincomprising a body including a tubular wall having an open upper end anda lower end closed by a bottom wall, rib means adjacent said open upperend for underlyingly supporting a safety cover, a safety cover having aperipheral edge underlyingly supported by said rib means, an accesscover closing said open upper end, and clamping means for clampinglysecuring said cover relative to said upper end.
 33. The settling andretention basin as defined in claim 32 including retainer means forsecuring said safety cover to said upper end while permitting totalremoval of said safety cover from said upper end.
 34. The settling andretention basin as defined in claim 32 including retainer means forsecuring said safety cover to said upper end while permitting totalremoval of said safety cover from said upper end, and said retainermeans is a flexible element connected to said safety cover and to saidupper end.
 35. The settling and retention basin as defined in claim 32including retainer means for securing said safety cover to said upperend while permitting total removal of said safety cover from said upperend, and said retainer means is a retainer cable connected to saidsafety cover and to said upper end.
 36. The settling and retention basinas defined in claim 32 wherein said rib means is a radially inwardlydirected circumferentially extending rib defined by upper and lowerannular walls and an innermost circumferentially wall therebetween, saidupper annular wall being a common wall of an inwardly opening channel;said inwardly opening channel being defined by said common wall, anoutermost circumferential wall and an upper annular wall; and saidsafety cover peripheral edge being supported by said common wall whichin part defines said rib means.
 37. The settling and retention basin asdefined in claim 32 wherein said access cover includes a radiallyoutwardly directed circumferential extending rib received in a radiallyinwardly opening circumferentially extending valley of said upper end.38. The settling and retention basin as defined in claim 32 wherein saidaccess cover includes a radially outwardly directed circumferentialextending rib received in a radially inwardly opening circumferentiallyextending valley of said upper end, and said rib means includes anannular wall common to said valley.
 39. The settling and retention basinas defined in claim 32 wherein said access cover includes a radiallyoutwardly directed circumferential extending rib received in a radiallyinwardly opening circumferentially extending valley of said upper end,said rib means includes an annular wall common to said valley, and saidsafety cover peripheral edge seats upon said common wall.
 40. Thesettling and retention basin as defined in claim 32 wherein saidclamping means is a one-piece band of a substantially U-shapedconfiguration over a major portion of the length thereof with a minorportion being a tongue having a plurality of spaced slots, an end ofsaid major portion including an upstanding wall having a slot forslidably receiving said tongue and a depending latching projection forentry into a selected one of said tongue slots, and a plurality ofspaced slots along said major portion adjacent said end whereby a toolcan be inserted in select ones of the major portion and tongue slots toeffect leverage tightening of said band.
 41. The settling and retentionbasin as defined in claim 32 wherein said clamping means is a one-pieceband of a substantially U-shaped configuration over a major portion ofthe length thereof with a minor portion being a tongue having aplurality of spaced slots, an end of said major portion including anupstanding wall having a slot for slidably receiving said tongue and adepending latching projection for entry into a selected one of saidtongue slots, a plurality of spaced slots along said major portionadjacent said end whereby a tool can be inserted in select ones of themajor portion and tongue slots to effect leverage tightening of saidband, and an upstanding apertured locking tab of said major portion endbeing adapted for receipt into a selected one of said tongue slots. 42.The settling and retention basin as defined in claim 32 wherein saidsafety cover is of an upwardly concavely curved configuration.
 43. Thesettling and retention basin as defined in claim 32 wherein said safetycover is of an upwardly concavely curved configuration, and aperturemeans in said safety cover for effecting fluid flow therethrough. 44.The settling and retention basin as defined in claim 37 wherein saidclamping means is a one-piece band of a substantially U-shapedconfiguration over a major portion of the length thereof with a minorportion being a tongue having a plurality of spaced slots, an end ofsaid major portion including an upstanding wall having a slot forslidably receiving said tongue and a depending latching projection forentry into a selected one of said tongue slots, and a plurality ofspaced slots along said major portion adjacent said end whereby a toolcan be inserted in select ones of the major portion and tongue slots toeffect leverage tightening of said band.
 45. A container particularlyadapted to be selectively changed in axial length comprising a bodyincluding a tubular wall, said tubular wall including a plurality ofalternating radially outwardly projecting circumferential ribs andradially outwardly opening circumferential valleys defining respectiveinwardly opening circumferential valleys and inwardly projectingcircumferential ribs, at least two substantially axially spaced pairs ofinwardly and outwardly projecting ribs defined by a common walltherebetween, at least one inwardly directed circumferential rib and anadjacent outwardly directed circumferential rib being located betweensaid two pairs of ribs, and the exterior diameter of said at least oneoutwardly directed circumferential rib corresponds substantially to theinternal diameter of the inwardly opening circumferential valleyswhereby upon the removal of said common wall and a circumferential wallof an adjacent inwardly projecting circumferential rib a band of wastematerial can be discarded and remaining at least two tubular wallportions of said tubular wall can be telescopically mated with said atleast one outwardly directed circumferential rib being seated within andupon a remaining wall portion of one of said inwardly openingcircumferential valleys.
 46. The container as defined in claim 45including clamping means for exteriorly clamping together saidtelescopically mated tubular wall portions.
 47. The container as definedin claim 45 including a cover portion integrally united to an upper endof said tubular wall at an outwardly projecting circumferential ribdefined by upper and lower annular walls and a circumferential walltherebetween, said upper annular wall merging with a circumferentialwall having a diameter no greater than the diameter of an immediatelyadjacent next lowermost inwardly projecting circumferential rib wherebyupon the removal of a band of waste material of said circumferentialwall said cover portion can be removed, inverted and inserted into saidupper end to function as a cover therefor.
 48. A method of installing anew wastewater treatment system of the type including a septic unit, anaerobic treatment unit or like wastewater treatment device comprisingthe steps of excavating a volume of soil, housing a wastewater treatmentdevice in the excavated volume, housing a solids settling and retentionbasin in the excavated volume downstream of the wastewater treatmentdevice, connecting an upstream pipe between the wastewater treatmentdevice and the basin for effecting wastewater flow into the basin,housing a filtration and flow equalization unit in the basin foreffecting wastewater filtration and flow equalization therebyeliminating flow surges, and connecting the filtration and flowequalization unit to a downstream soil absorption system wherebysubstantially solid-free wastewater is delivered to the soil absorptionsystem while filtered and settled solid can be subsequently removed formthe basin and the filtration and flow equalization unit.
 49. The methodas defined in claim 48 including reconditioning and cleaning thefiltration and flow equalization unit by performing the steps ofremoving the filtration and flow equalization unit through an open upperend of the basin, spanning the basin open upper end with an aperturedsupport, supporting the filtration and flow equalization unit upon theapertured support, and directing water upon and into the filtration andflow equalization unit while supported upon the apertured supportwhereby removed solids are flushed through the apertured support intothe basin.
 50. The method as defined in claim 48 includingreconditioning and cleaning the filtration and flow equalization unit byperforming the steps of removing the filtration and flow equalizationunit through an open upper end of the basin, spanning the basin openupper end with an apertured upwardly concavely facing support,supporting the filtration and flow equalization unit upon the aperturedupwardly concavely facing support, and directing water upon and into thefiltration and flow equalization unit while supported upon the aperturedupwardly concavely facing support whereby removed solids are flushedthrough the apertured upwardly concavely facing support into the basin.51. The method as defined in claim 48 including reconditioning andcleaning the filtration and flow equalization unit by performing thesteps of removing the filtration and flow equalization unit through anopen upper end of the basin, spanning the basin open upper end with anupwardly concavely facing centrally apertured cover, supporting thefiltration and flow equalization unit upon the upwardly concavely facingcentrally apertured cover, and directing water upon and into thefiltration and flow equalization unit while supported upon the upwardlyconcavely facing centrally apertured cover whereby removed solids areflushed through the upwardly concavely facing centrally apertured coverinto the basin.
 52. The method as defined in claim 48 including“customizing” the height of the basin to the location of an outlet ofthe wastewater treatment device and/or the depth of excavation and/orits position relative to ground level by performing the steps of addingone of a riser and a ring respectively above and below a section of thebasin to which the upstream pipe is to be connected, and exteriorlyclamping the one added riser and ring to the basin section.
 53. Themethod as defined in claim 48 including “customizing” the height of thebasin to the location of an outlet of the wastewater treatment deviceand/or the depth of excavation and/or its position relative to groundlevel by performing the steps of providing one of a riser and a ring ofa peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheral profile of asection of the basin to which the upstream pipe is to be connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the one added riser and ring, andexteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial ends together. 54.The method as defined in claim 48 including “customizing” the height ofthe basin to the location of an outlet of the wastewater treatmentdevice and/or the depth of excavation and/or its position relative toground level by performing the steps of providing one of a riser and aring of a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of a section of the basin to which the upstream pipe is to beconnected, telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section witha substantially matching axial end of the one added riser and ring,sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically united axialends, and exteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial endstogether.
 55. The method as defined in claim 48 including “customizing”the height of the basin to the location of an outlet of the wastewatertreatment device and/or the depth of excavation and/or its positionrelative to ground level by performing the steps of providing one of ariser and a ring of a peripheral profile substantially matching theperipheral profile of a section of the basin to which the upstream pipeis to be connected, telescopically uniting an axial end of the basinsection with a substantially matching axial end of the one added riserand ring, sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically unitedaxial ends, and exteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial endstogether in the area of the annular seal to compress the same betweenthe telescopically united axial ends.
 56. The method as defined in claim48 including “customizing” the height of the basin to the location of anoutlet of the wastewater treatment device and/or the depth of excavationand/or its position relative to ground level by performing the steps ofproviding one of a riser and a ring of a peripheral profilesubstantially matching the peripheral profile of a section of the basinto which the upstream pipe is to be connected, telescopically uniting anaxial end of the basin section with a substantially matching axial endof the one added riser and ring, sandwiching an annular seal between thetelescopically united axial ends and outboard of the exteriormost of theaxial ends, and exteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial endstogether.
 57. The method as defined in claim 48 including “customizing”the height of the basin to the location of an outlet of the wastewatertreatment device and/or the depth of excavation and/or its positionrelative to ground level by performing the steps of providing one of ariser and a ring of a peripheral profile substantially matching theperipheral profile of a section of the basin to which the upstream pipeends is to be connected, telescopically uniting an axial end of thebasin section with a substantially matching axial end of the one addedriser and ring, sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopicallyunited axial ends and outboard of the exteriormost of the axial ends,and exteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial ends together inthe area of the annular seal to compress the same between thetelescopically united axial ends and a clamp effecting the clamping. 58.The method as defined in claim 48 including “customizing” the height ofthe basin to the location of an outlet of the wastewater treatmentdevice and/or the depth of excavation and/or its position relative toground level by performing the steps of providing a riser of aperipheral profile substantially matching the peripheral profile of asection of the basin to which the upstream pipe is to be connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the riser, and exteriorly clampingthe telescopically united axial ends together.
 59. The method as definedin claim 48 including “customizing” the height of the basin to thelocation of an outlet of the wastewater treatment device and/or thedepth of excavation and/or its position relative to ground level byperforming the steps of providing a riser of a peripheral profilesubstantially matching the peripheral profile of a section of the basinto which the upstream pipe is to be connected, telescopically uniting anaxial end of the basin section with a substantially matching axial endof the riser, sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopicallyunited axial ends, and exteriorly clamping the telescopically unitedaxial ends together.
 60. The method as defined in claim 48 including“customizing” the height of the basin to the location of an outlet ofthe wastewater treatment device and/or the depth of excavation and/orits position relative to ground level by performing the steps ofproviding a riser of a peripheral profile substantially matching theperipheral profile of a section of the basin to which the upstream pipeis connected, telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin sectionwith a substantially matching axial end of the riser, sandwiching anannular seal between the telescopically united axial ends, andexteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial ends together in thearea of the annular seal to compress the same between the telescopicallyunited axial ends.
 61. The method as defined in claim 48 including“customizing” the height of the basin to the location of an outlet ofthe wastewater treatment device and/or the depth of excavation and/orits position relative to ground level by performing the steps ofproviding a riser of a peripheral profile substantially matching theperipheral profile of a section of the basin to which the upstream pipeis connected, telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin sectionwith a substantially matching axial end of the riser, sandwiching anannular seal between the telescopically united axial ends and outboardof the exteriormost of the axial ends, and exteriorly clamping thetelescopically united axial ends together.
 62. The method as defined inclaim 48 including “customizing” the height of the basin to the locationof an outlet of the wastewater treatment device and/or the depth ofexcavation and/or its position relative to ground level by performingthe steps of providing a riser of a peripheral profile substantiallymatching the peripheral profile of a section of the basin to which theupstream pipe is to be connected, telescopically uniting an axial end ofthe basin section with a substantially matching axial end of the riser,sandwiching an annular seal between the telescopically united axial endsand outboard of the exteriormost of the axial ends, and exteriorlyclamping the telescopically united axial ends together in the area ofthe annular seal to compress the same between the telescopically unitedaxial ends and a clamp effecting the clamping.
 63. The method as definedin claim 48 including “customizing” the height of the basin to thelocation of an outlet of the wastewater treatment device and/or thedepth of excavation and/or its position relative to ground level byperforming the steps of providing a ring of a peripheral profilesubstantially matching the peripheral profile of a section of the basinto which the upstream pipe is to be connected, telescopically uniting anaxial end of the basin section with a substantially matching axial endof the ring, and exteriorly clamping the telescopically united axialends together.
 64. The method as defined in claim 48 including“customizing” the height of the basin to the location of an outlet ofthe wastewater treatment device and/or the depth of excavation and/orits position relative to ground level by performing the steps ofproviding a ring of a peripheral profile substantially matching theperipheral profile of a section of the basin to which the upstream pipeis to be connected, telescopically uniting an axial end of the basinsection with a substantially matching axial end of the ring, sandwichingan annular seal between the telescopically united axial ends, andexteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial ends together. 65.The method as defined in claim 48 including “customizing” the height ofthe basin to the location of an outlet of the wastewater treatmentdevice and/or the depth of excavation and/or its position relative toground level by performing the steps of providing a ring of a peripheralprofile substantially matching the peripheral profile of a section ofthe basin to which the upstream pipe is to be connected, telescopicallyuniting an axial end of the basin section with a substantially matchingaxial end of the ring, sandwiching an annular seal between thetelescopically united axial ends, and exteriorly clamping thetelescopically united axial ends together in the area of the annularseal to compress the same between the telescopically united axial ends.66. The method as defined in claim 48 including “customizing” the heightof the basin to the location of an outlet of the wastewater treatmentdevice and/or the depth of excavation and/or its position relative toground level by performing the steps of providing a ring of a peripheralprofile substantially matching the peripheral profile of a section ofthe basin to which the upstream pipe is to be connected, telescopicallyuniting an axial end of the basin section with a substantially matchingaxial end of the ring, sandwiching an annular seal between thetelescopically united axial ends and outboard of the exteriormost of theaxial ends, and exteriorly clamping the telescopically united axial endstogether.
 67. The method as defined in claim 48 including “customizing”the height of the basin to the location of an outlet of the wastewatertreatment device and/or the depth of excavation and/or its positionrelative to ground level by performing the steps of providing a ring ofa peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheral profile of asection of the basin to which the upstream pipe is to be connected,telescopically uniting an axial end of the basin section with asubstantially matching axial end of the ring, sandwiching an annularseal between the telescopically united axial ends and outboard of theexteriormost of the axial ends, and exteriorly clamping thetelescopically united axial ends together in the area of the annularseal to compress the same between the telescopically united axial endsand a clamp effecting the clamping.
 68. The method as defined in claim48 including “customizing” the height of the basin by performing thesteps of providing a tubular section of predetermined axial length andhaving a peripheral profile substantially matching the peripheralprofile of the basin, peripherally severing the basin between a closedbottom thereof and a point at which the upstream pipe is to be connectedto the basin, telescopically uniting ends of the tubular section withsevered ends of the basin, and exteriorly clamping the telescopicallyunited ends together.
 69. The method as defined in claim 48 wherein thebasin is defined at least in part by an upper tubular section, a lowertubular section having a closed bottom and a medial tubular section towhich the downstream pipe is to be connected, and including the steps oftelescopically uniting upper and lower peripheral ends of the medialtubular section with respective lower and upper peripheral ends of therespective upper and lower tubular sections, and exteriorly clampingeach of the united peripheral ends to each other.
 70. A settling andretention basin comprising a molded one-piece body ofpolymeric/copolymeric material including a tubular body wall and axiallyopposite ends, a pair of openings, said openings being located insubstantially diametrically opposite wall portions of said tubular bodywall, each said openings having an axis, and said axes being in spacedoffset relationship to each other.
 71. The settling and retention basinas defined in claim 70 wherein said tubular body wall includes inwardlyprojecting rib means for suspendingly supporting thereupon a wastewatertreatment mechanism.
 72. The settling and retention basin as defined inclaim 70 wherein both of said tubular body wall ends are closed.
 73. Thesettling and retention basin as defined in claim 70 wherein at least oneof said tubular body wall ends is open.
 74. The settling and retentionbasin as defined in claim 71 wherein said tubular body wall includes anopen upper end and a closed bottom end, and said openings are locatedgreater distances from said open end than the distance of said rib meansfrom said open end.
 75. The settling and retention basin as defined inclaim 71 wherein said rib means includes at least one substantiallyradially inwardly directed rib in turn defining a radially outwardlyopening valley.
 76. The settling and retention basin as defined in claim71 wherein said rib means includes at least one substantially radiallyinwardly directed substantially cylindrically extending rib in turndefining a radially outwardly opening valley.
 77. The settling andretention basin as defined in claim 71 wherein said rib means includesat least one substantially radially inwardly directed substantiallycylindrically extending continuous rib in turn defining a radiallyoutwardly opening valley.
 78. The settling and retention basin asdefined in claim 74 wherein said rib means includes at least onesubstantially radially inwardly directed rib in turn defining a radiallyoutwardly opening valley.
 79. The settling and retention basin asdefined in claim 74 wherein said rib means includes at least onesubstantially radially inwardly directed substantially cylindricallyextending rib in turn defining a radially outwardly opening valley. 80.The settling and retention basin as defined in claim 74 wherein said ribmeans includes at least one substantially radially inwardly directedsubstantially cylindrically extending continuous rib in turn defining aradially outwardly opening valley.